Carol Channing arrives at Collegiate Marble Church in New York City for Liza Minelli's wedding on March 16, 2002. File Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI | License Photo

Carol Channing is overcome with emotion upon hearing that West 46th Street where the Lunt Fontanne is located will be renamed "Channing Way" in honor of her 4,500 performance in the role of Dolly Levi, which she originated thirty two years ago, in the musical "Hello Dolly" on January 10, 1996. UPI File Photo | License Photo

Carol Channing is covered by a flock of white doves during a number in the musical “Sugar Babies” on opening night at the Colonial Theatre in Boston on September 28, 1990. File Photo by Pam Price/UPI | License Photo

The stars of “La Cage Aux Folles” and “Jerry’s Girls,” gathered around composer of both musicals, Jerry Herman, backstage in San Francisco on August 8, 1984. At top are La Cage leads Gene Barry (L), and Walter Charles. From left to right, in front, are Andrea McCardle, Carol Channing and Leslie Uggams, with Jerry Herman in the center. File Photo by Ron Sheri/UPI | License Photo

Jan. 15 (UPI) --Carol Channing, a Broadway legend known for starring in stage productions of Gentleman Prefer Blondes and Hello, Dolly!, has died at the age of 97.

Channing died Tuesday inside her home in Rancho Mirage, Calif., of natural causes, her publicist B. Harlan Boll confirmed in a statement.

"It is with extreme heartache, that I have to announce the passing of an original Industry Pioneer, Legend and Icon - Miss Carol Channing. I admired her before I met her, and have loved her since the day she stepped ... or fell rather ... into my life," Boll said.

"It is so very hard to see the final curtain lower on a woman who has been a daily part of my life for more than a third of it. We supported each other, cried with each other, argued with each other, but always ended up laughing with each other," Boll continued.

"Saying good-bye is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but I know that when I feel those uncontrollable urges to laugh at everything and/or nothing at all, it will be because she is with me, tickling my funny bone."

Channing made her stage debut in 1941 in Never Take No for an Answer. She became a star in 1949 after portraying Lorelei Lee in Gentleman Prefer Blondes, singing the famous Broadway tune, "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."

Channing also starred in Wonderful Town and The Vamp before taking on her iconic role as Dolly Gallagher Levi in 1964 in Hello, Dolly!. The actress continued to reprise her role in the musical for more than 5,000 performances until 1995.

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Notable deaths of 2018

Chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain attends the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on August 16, 2014. Bourdain died by suicide in France at the age of 61, his employer CNN announced on June 8. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Penny Marshall arrives on the red carpet at the SNL 40th Anniversary Special in New York City on February 15, 2015. The "Laverne & Shirley" actress died of complications from diabetes on December 18 in her home in California. Marshall was 75 years old. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Director Bernardo Bertolucci arrives at photocall during the 64th annual Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 11, 2011. Bertolucci received an honorary Palme Dõor for his lifetime achievements. The director, known for helming "The Last Emperor" and "Last Tango in Paris," died on November 26 at the age of 77. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

Kim Porter arrives for the MTV Video Music Award show in Miami on August 28, 2005. The model, actress and singer, who famously dated Sean 'Diddy' Combs and shares three children with the rap mogul, died on November 15 at the age of 47. File Photo by Michael Bush/UPI | License Photo

Country Music Association 2009 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees, from left to right, Charlie McCoy, Barbara Mandrell and Roy Clark pose for photos at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville on February 4, 2009. Clark died on November 15 at 85 years old of complications from pneumonia at his home in Tulsa, Okla. File Photo by Frederick Breedon IV/UPI | License Photo

Stan Lee attends the "Extraordinary: Stan Lee" tribute event at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif., on August 22, 2017. The visionary behind "The Avengers," "Spider-Man," "Black Panther," and countless other characters died at 95 years old on November 12. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

National Baseball Hall of Fame member Willie McCovey smiles during induction ceremonies in Cooperstown, N.Y. on July 27, 2008. McCovey died at the age of 80, on October 31. The San Francisco Giants announced McCovey's death, saying the hitter passed "peacefully" in the afternoon "after losing his battle with ongoing health issues." A former first baseman and left fielder, McCovey was a career .270 hitter with 521 home runs and 1,555 RBIs in 22 major league seasons, 19 of them with the Giants. He also played for the Athletics and Padres. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Seahawks owner Paul Allen holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the Super Bowl XLVIII celebration at CenturyLink Field on February 5, 2014 in Seattle. Allen, the Microsoft co-founder who bought a struggling Seattle Seahawks franchise in 1997, died on October 15 in Seattle at the age of 65. File Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI | License Photo

Marty Balin, right, and guest arrive for the 58th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 15, 2016. Balin, co-founder of the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane, died on September 27 at the age of 76. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Rapper Mac Miller arrives for the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles on September 6, 2012. Miller, born Malcolm James McCormick, died September 7 at his Studio City, Calif., home, law enforcement sources said. He was 26. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Actor Burt Reynolds, who plays Jefferson Davis 'Boss' Hogg in "The Dukes of Hazzard", arrives for the film's premiere in Hollywood, Calif. on July 28, 2005. The Hollywood legend, known for starring in hit films such as "Smokey and the Bandit" and "Deliverance," died on September 6 in Jupiter, Fla. at the age of 82. Photo/Jim Ruymen) | License Photo

Neil Simon arrives at his opening night party for the Broadway revival production of his play "The Odd Couple" at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on October 27, 2005. The playwright died on August 26 at age 91. Simon was a three-time Tony winner, Kennedy Center honoree and recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. File Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI | License Photo

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., asks questions during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on United States Cyber Command on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on May 9, 2017. McCain died on August 25 at the age of 81. The veteran and one-time Republican presidential nominee died 13 months after doctors diagnosed him with what he described as a "very vicious" form of brain cancer. File Photo by Erin Schaff/UPI | License Photo

Aretha Franklin accepts the Vanguard Award at the 39th annual NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles on February 14, 2008. The Queen of Soul, known for her chart-topping songs "Respect" and "Chain of Fools," died of an un-disclosed illness in Detroit on August 16. Franklin was 76. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Charlotte Rae attends the Professional Dancers Society annual Gypsy Award Luncheon in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 30, 2014. Rae died at 92 years old in her home in Los Angeles on August 5. The actress was best known for her role as Edna Garrett in "The Facts of Life." File Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI | License Photo

Kazakhstan's Denis Ten performs during the figure skating: men free skating event during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 14, 2014. Ten was stabbed to death in Almaty, Kazakhstan on July 20. The figure skater was 25 years old. File Photo by Maya Vidon-White/UPI | License Photo

Actor Tab Hunter attends the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) annual luncheon held in Beverly Hills, Calif., on August 13, 2013. Hunter died at 86 of a blood clot that caused a heart attack on July 8. Hunter was most known for starring as baseball star Joe Hardy in the big screen adaptation of musical "Damn Yankees." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Radio talk show host Ed Schultz talks to a caller on March 24, 2006, in the studios of Air America's KLSD in San Diego, Calif. Schultz died on July 5 at his home in Washington D.C. of natural causes. File Photo by Earl S. Cryer/UPI | License Photo

Joe Jackson arrives for the Elton John Aids Foundation's 26th annual Academy Awards viewing party in Los Angeles on March 4, 2018. Jackson, the patriarch and manager of the musical Jackson family, died at 89 in a Los Angeles hospital following a battle with terminal cancer. File Photo by Gregg DeGuire/UPI | License Photo

Kate Spade poses for pictures at the Time Magzine launch of "Time Style & Design" in New York City on February 10, 2003. Spade, the namesake and co-founder of Kate Spade New York, was found dead on June 5 at her home. The designer was 55 years old. File Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI | License Photo

President Barack Obama presents the 2010 National Medal of Humanities to author Philip Roth in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on March 2, 2011. Roth, who wrote 31 novels known to be about male and Jewish identity and sexuality, died May 22 of congestive heart failure in a New York City hospital. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo

Author Tom Wolfe attends Time Magazine's 100 most influential people dinner gala held in New York City on April 19, 2005. Wolfe, among the writers credited with creating "New Journalism," died May 14 in a Manhattan hospital at age 88. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo

Verne Troyer arrives at the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night in Phoenix on March 24, 2012. Troyer, who played Mini-Me in two of the "Austin Powers" films, died April 21 at the age of 49. File Photo by Art Foxall/UPI | License Photo

Former first lady Barbara Bush, shown with her husband, former President George W. Bush at an election victory celebration for their son Jeb Bush for Florida governor. The family matriarch died April 17, 2018, at age 92. File Photo by Robert Stolpe/UPI. | License Photo

NPR newscaster, Carl Kasell, shown in St. Louis on April 10, 2010, has died at the age of 84 in Potomac, Md on April 17. Wife Mary Ann Foster, said the cause of death was complications of Alzheimer’s disease. At the age of 64, Kasell began a second career as “official judge and scorekeeper” of an NPR call-in comedy hour. Kasell joined National Public Radio's staff as a news announcer for Weekend All Things Considered in 1975 and was also the news announcer for NPR's Morning Edition from its inception in 1979 through 2009. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Winnie Mandela, then wife of South African Black leader Nelson Mandela, salutes the crowd before addressing a group of female supporters of the African national Congress June 24,1990 in Washington, D.C. Mandela died at 81 on April 2 in Johannesburg at Milpark Hospital, where she was being treated for a kidney infection. Photo by Patsy Lynch/UPI | License Photo

Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., chairs the House Rules Committee as they meet in Washington on March 20, 2010. Slaughter died March 16 in Washington, D.C. at 88. Slaughter was the oldest serving member of Congress and the first woman to chair the House Rules Committee. File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI | License Photo

Physicist Stephen Hawking delivers a lecture entitled "Why We Go into Space" as a part of a series honoring NASA's 50th Anniversary at the George Washington University on April 21, 2008. Hawking died at his home in Cambridge, England early March 14, 2018. He was 76. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Sir John Sulston, 2002 Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine, eyes the crowd before his lecture at the St. Louis Science Center in St. Louis on Nov. 12, 2002. Sulston, a pioneering British geneticist who was the face of the international project to decode the human genome, died March 9 at the age of 75. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Rev. Billy Graham addresses nearly 40,000 people that have assembled to hear his message in St. Louis, Mo., October 14, 1999. Graham died Feb. 21 at 99 and was laid to rest in Charlotte. File photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Legendary British athlete Sir Roger Bannister crosses the finish line at Iffley Road athletics track on the 50th anniversary of his breaking the mile record in under four minutes In Oxford, England, on May 06, 2004. Bannister died March 3 surrounded by family in Oxford. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Actor Reg E. Cathey appears onstage during the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 20, 2015. The Emmy-winning actor known for his work on "Outcast," "House of Cards," "Oz" and "The Wire" died Feb. 9. He was 59. File Photo by Ken Matsui/UPI. | License Photo

John Mahoney attends the premiere of "Flipped", in Los Angeles on July 26, 2010. Mahoney, a SAG- and Tony-winning actor, died on Feb. 5 in Chicago at the age of 77. File photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Mark Salling of the TV show "Glee" performs on the South Lawn during the White House Easter Egg Roll in Washington, D.C. on April 5, 2010. Salling died on Jan. 29 by suicide at the age of 35. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo